# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2016_S465
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

FLOOR COMMITTEE REPORTS AND OVERTURES ASSIGNMENTS

14. Church and Culture

14-03

To Declare It Contrary to Scripture to Join
in Prayer with Those Who Deny Jesus Christ

REPORTS
R1, R1.1, R1.2, R1.3, R11, R59
OVERTURES
14-01

To Establish a Legal Defense Fund
Whereas, Society at large is becoming increasingly hostile to the
truth of the Gospel; and
Whereas, The state is increasingly seeking to “turn its coercive
powers on the church and hinder its mission”1; and
Whereas, Rostered church workers and church entities are
increasingly vulnerable to lawsuits and potentially even prison time1
for their defense of the Gospel; therefore be it
Resolved, That the English District memorialize the LCMS to
establish a legal defense fund to aid in the defense of rostered church
workers or church entities who come under legal attack for their witness to God’s truth.
1
LCMS President Matthew Harrison, quoted in: “Harrison encourages LCMS to ‘not grow weary’ in public square” (Reporter Online;
blogs.lcms.org/2014/not-grow-weary, accessed 11/18/14).
English District
Farmington, MI
14-02

To Address Public Issues Strongly
Whereas, The mission work abroad that our Synod has been
developing over the last few years is appreciated; and
Whereas, The strong stand that our Synod has taken in defending religious freedom in our nation is a blessing; and
Whereas, Our Synod has been very supportive of the sanctity of
marriage and of the proper definition of marriage as a lifelong union
of one man and one woman; and
Whereas, Our Synod has been a very strong voice for the sanctity of life; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Wyoming District convention memorialize the
2016 LCMS convention to continue and expand mission work at home
and abroad, and that it encourage a continued focus at home on mercy,
witness, and life together; and be it further
Resolved, That the Wyoming District convention memorialize the
LCMS convention to continue this strong defense of religious freedom, and that it continue to support the biblical doctrines of the two
kingdoms regarding the relationship between church and state; and
be it further
Resolved, That the Wyoming District convention memorialize the
LCMS convention to continue an aggressive and continued support
of marriage based on the revelation of God in the Scriptures; and be
it finally
Resolved, That the Wyoming District convention also memorialize the LCMS convention to continue as a very strong voice for the
sanctity of life, especially supporting the truth that life begins at conception and is therefore deserving of our protection and care.
Wyoming District
465

Whereas, The 2004 LCMS convention did resolve “to commend
the CTCR document Guidelines for Participation in Civic Events for
study to help pastors, teachers, and church workers make decisions
about participation in civic events” (Res. 3-06A); and
Whereas, For the sake of our own consciences and for a testimony to future generations, we want to give clear testimony to
our faith in Jesus Christ as the only way to the true God, as clearly
revealed in 1 John 2:23 and confessed in the Large Catechism (LC
II 66); therefore be it
Resolved, No resolution, guideline, or program, whether it be
resolved, accepted, or promoted by The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod or one of its districts, is understood by the 2016 LCMS convention to command, allow, or encourage a Christian to join in prayer
with those who deny Jesus Christ is the only way to the true God.
Zion
Chippewa Falls, WI
14-04

To Change Name of Synod
to Concordia Lutheran Synod
Whereas, In 1874 the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of
Missouri, Ohio, and Other States was founded to be the uniquely
faithful and confessional Lutheran church body in the United States;
and
Whereas, From its founding the German Evangelical Lutheran
Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States sought other faithful and
confessional church bodies with which to share fellowship; and
Whereas, In order to better proclaim the Gospel and prepare its
members for the Christian life, the German Evangelical Lutheran
Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States began transitioning to
bilingual as early as 1885; and
Whereas, The German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri,
Ohio, and Other States marked its centennial by changing its name to
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and
Whereas, Throughout the end of the twentieth century The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has become the pinnacle of
uniquely faithful and confessional Lutheran theology and practice;
and
Whereas, The dawn of the twenty-first century has brought
church bodies across the globe to the door of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod for education and guidance; and
Whereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has taken great
strides in facilitating global education and reaching out through missions; and
Whereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and other
Lutheran church bodies have sought doctrinal unity and altar and
pulpit fellowship, and have begun many dialogues to achieve such
fellowship; and
Whereas, The priorities of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod are (1) to plant, sustain, and revitalize distinctly Lutheran
churches; (2) to support and expand theological education; (3) to
perform human care in close proximity to Word and Sacrament ministry; (4) to collaborate with the Synod’s members and partners to
enhance mission effectiveness; (5) to nurture pastors, missionaries,
2016 Convention Workbook